Window cleaner&#39;s device



Oct. 27, 1936. G, o w s 2,059,011

WINDOW CLEANER'S DEVICE Filed May 1'7, 1955 a? 5 6 M0W5 Patented Oct. 27, 1936 PATENT OFFIQE WINDOW CLEANERS DEVICE Paul G. Moewes, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 17,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to ease and convenience in cleaningwindows and structures of a similar nature.

Inthe priorart, window cleaning was a pre- '-carious undertaking in that the window cleaner had to support himself in some way, either by hanging on with one hand or by erecting a plank supported by ladders or suspended from structure above if. there were any. This suspension also is dangerous since some way must be found to fasten a suspension rope to the element intended for suspension which often is quite precarious also. Fastening the plank to the suspension ropes is further precarious and, in most instances, requires a ladder or two especially when windows above the'ground floor are to be cleaned.

The present invention aims to remove the objections found in the prior art and to provide a device which is safe in use and easy and convenient of installation and removal.

Objects of the present invention are:

To provide a device which provides safety for a window cleaner.

To provide a device which is easily and conveniently applied to and removed from windows either from the inside or from the outside thereof.

To provide a device which can be folded up when not in use for economy in storage and ease and convenience in transportation and in attaching and detaching- To provide a device which adequately supports window cleaners vertically.

To provide a device which is held sidewise against a window framing.

Other objects will be pointed out during the description of the device shown in the accompanying drawing or will become obvious or will suggest themselves upon an inspection of said specification and said drawing.

The device shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views, is one embodiment of the present invention, is shown for illustration purposes but not for limitation purposes, and is subject to changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention and the appended claims. 1

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window cleaners device, embodying the present invention, opened up andsuspended from a window fram- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of 1935, Serial No. 21,996

Fig. 1 folded up for storage and ready for installation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective side view, on a larger scale, of one end of Fig. 1 with the chain and floor and guard omitted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the structure of Fig. 3 when folded up.

Description of the device shown in the accompanying drawing Each side arm is foldable upon the other and for that purpose is made of the parts II and I2 joined together by the hinge I3. The parts are shown as made of angle iron although other material of light weight and sulficient strength can be used and the cross-sectional form can be changed.

The brackets l4 and I5, preferably of light weight metal, are secured to the underside of the floor near the respective ends of the floor I0 and extend therefrom for the purpose of resting the device on the window sill H3. The window sills usually have a portion thereof extending inwardly of the inner wall in which a window is located and thereby leave a ledge (not shown in the drawing). The brackets l4 and I5 may be extended to reach across the window sill and have a hook on the end thereof to engage the underside of this ledge and thereby take some of the load off of the below described chains.

Chains l1 and I8 are on the respective ends of the platform. One end of each is loosely hooked into the respective eyes 19 which eyes are secured to the respective side arms. The other end of each chain is free to be hooked into the respective eyes 20 which are secured to the window casing 2|. The eyes 20 are shown as being open sided so that the chains can be easily and conveniently hooked thereinto during installation of the device or easily and conveniently unhooked therefrom for removal of the device. It is, of course, obvious that closed eye members may be fastened to the window.

may become lost. This disadvantage of the hooks fixed on the chain is pronounced only when the companion hook member is spaced differently from window sills vertically.

When the open sided eyes 20 shown as secured to the window sill are used, any link of the chains can be hooked thereinto and it is not necessary that these open sided eyes are spaced a definite or certain distance vertically of the window sill.

When the brackets have the mentioned hooks on the ends thereof to engage the underside of the overhanging window sill, the chains may be omitted but, for the sake of safety, one or more struts should be provided on the underside of the platform and extending angularly therefrom so that the lower and free end thereof abuts the wall of a building.

The struts between the arm parts H and i2 each comprises the part 22 pivoted onto the part II by means of the pivot pin 23 and the part 24 pivoted onto the part [2 by means of the pivot pin 25. The parts 22 and 24 are pivoted together by means of, the pivot pin 26 so located that the parts 22 and 24 will fold when the parts H and I2 are folded. To efiect locking of the struts when extended, the part 22 has the part 21 partly severed therefrom providing a flexible part or spring tongue that is bent up far enough so that the end 28 thereof abuts the end face 29 of the part 24. The flange 30 on the part 22 abuts the side edge of the part 24 when the strut is extended and prevents the parts 22 and 24 from accidentally folding in the opposite direction and keeps the same in alinement.

The eyes 3| are secured to the window sill l6 and the hook 32 is loosely engaged in the pivot pin 33 secured to the part l2.

The guard 34 is secured to the parts II and folds down upon the floor l0 when the struts are ,released.

Operation When the device is folded up, it is easily stored and transported and passed through a window opening from the inside of a building or can easily and conveniently be carried up a ladder for attachment toa window frame.

When the device is in approximate position, the brackets are directed onto the window sill as an aid to vertical suspension of the platform in addition to the chains and the chains may then be hooked into the eyes for further suspension of the platform. The obliquity of the chains also tends to hold the platform laterally against a window framing or a building in addition to the vertical supporting attained thereby. Thereafter the guard is pivoted from the floor whereby the struts are extended and the parts thereof automatically lock themselves against too far movement as well as against self reversing. The hooks 32 are then hooked into the eyes 3| to form a positive means for holding the platform laterally against a window framing or a building.

When the platform is suspended, an operator may conveniently sit on the platform floor and let his feet hang down inside of the room, or he may stand on the platform to reach the higher parts of the window. The guard on the platform prevents water pails, brushes, or other mechanisms used in window cleaning as well as being a protective measure against the operator slipping ofi of the platform sidewise and the struts are also such a protective measure against an operator slipping endwise off of the platform.

The removing of the platform is the reverse of the installation thereof.

The device shown and described conveys the idea of the present invention although changes and modifications can be made therein which still come within the idea and scope of invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Therefore, having described the present invention in one embodiment and without limiting myself to the precise structure and arrangement of parts so shown and described,

I claim:

1. A device of the class described having horizontal and vertical angle irons at each end thereof, the flanges of the horizontal angle irons being at the tops and outer sides thereof, a floor secured to the top flanges of the horizontal angle irons, said horizontal angle irons at their outer ends having both flanges vertically extended, hinges securing the vertical angle irons to said extensions and in line therewith, for folding over said floor, a back connected to the vertical angle irons, foldable brace means connecting the horizontal and vertical angle irons, said brace means consisting of links pivoted together, one of said links having a part partly severed therefrom comprising a spring tongue to snap into engagement with the other link to guard against folding of said brace means, and means on the horizontal angle irons adjacent the extensions for connection of a flexible brace thereto.

2. A device of the class described having horizontal and vertical angle irons at each end thereof, the flanges of the horizontal angle irons being at the tops and outer sides thereof, a floor secured to the top flanges of the horizontal angle irons, said horizontal angle irons at their outer ends having both flanges vertically extended, hinges securing the vertical angle irons to said extensions and in line therewith, for folding over said floor, a back connected to the vertical angle irons, foldable brace means connecting the horizontal and vertical angle irons, and means on the horizontal angle irons adjacent the extensions for connection of a flexible brace thereto, said brace means consisting of links pivoted together, one of the links having a part partly severed therefrom comprising a flexible part adapted to snap into engagement with the other part. to guard against folding of the device.

3. A device of the class described having horizontal and vertical angle irons at each end thereof, the flanges of the horizontal angle irons being at the tops and outer sides thereof, a floor secured to the top flanges of the horizontal angle irons, said horizontal angle irons at their outer ends having both flanges vertically extended, hinges securing the vertical angle irons to said extensions and in line therewith, for folding over said floor, a back connected to the vertical angle irons, foldable brace means connecting the horizontal and vertical angle irons, means on the horizontal angle irons adjacent the extensions for connection of a flexible brace thereto, said brace means consisting of links pivoted together, one of the links having a flexible part adapted to snap into engagement with the other part to guard against folding of the device, and rests adapted to engage a window sill secured to the horizontal angle irons beneath the top flanges thereof.

PAUL G. MOEWES. 

